Steven P. Perskie
Encyclopedia
Steven P. Perskie is a former New Jersey Superior Court
judge in Atlantic City, New Jersey
and a former Democratic Party
politician from Margate, New Jersey
. Perskie served as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly
, where he represented the 2nd legislative district from 1971 to 1977. He was elected to the New Jersey Senate
in 1977. Perskie served as the third chairman
of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission
, from 1990 to 1994. Outside of politics, Perskie worked as both a corporate and private practice attorney.
. In 1966, he graduated from Yale University
and in 1969 earned a law degree at the University of Pennsylvania Law School
. In 1970, he earned a masters in taxation from New York University
.
Party leadership at the Democratic convention in 1977 roundly supported Perskie over sitting Senator Joseph McGahn
by a margin of 266 to 77. McGahn ran in the general election as an independent, with Perskie beating both McGahn and Republican candidate Frederick Perone. Perskie and McGahn had won election to the Legislature together in 1971, despite the Republicans 4-1 edge in voter registration.
In 1981, Perskie was again challenged in the general election by McGahn, who ran as a Republican. Perskie won reelection with 29,151 votes, defeating McGahn, who received 28,149.
Perskie was appointed an Atlantic County Superior Court Judge in 1982. In 1989, he resigned from the bench to manage James Florio
's successful gubernatorial campaign. He served as Florio's chief of staff from 1989 to 1990.
Perskie was appointed as chairman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission in 1990 and served in that capacity until 1994. On March 29, 1994, he announced his resignation from the Casino Control Commission to become vice president and general counsel of Players International
, an operator of riverboat casino
s with no interests in New Jersey. In 1996, Perskie left Players and entered into private law practice. In 2001, Perskie was reappointed to the bench and was confirmed for permanent tenure in December 2008.
On February 1, 2010, Perskie retired from the bench and joined the law firm of Perskie, Mairone, Brog & Baylinson in Linwood, New Jersey
.
's Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct filed a three-count complaint alleging that Perskie lied to a State Senate panel regarding a potential conflict of interest. On August 1, 2011, the New Jersey Supreme Court censured Perskie for ethics violations but determined that he did not intentionally mislead the State Senate panel.
New Jersey Superior Court
The Superior Court is the state court in the U.S. state of New Jersey, with state-wide trial and appellate jurisdiction. The Superior Court has three divisions: the Appellate Division is essentially an intermediate appellate court while the Law and Chancery Divisions function as trial courts...
judge in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
and a former Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician from Margate, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Perskie served as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
, where he represented the 2nd legislative district from 1971 to 1977. He was elected to the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
in 1977. Perskie served as the third chairman
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission
New Jersey Casino Control Commission
The Casino Control Commission is a New Jersey state governmental agency that was founded in 1977 as the state's gaming control board, responsible for administering the Casino Control Act and its regulations to assure public trust and confidence in the credibility and integrity of the casino...
, from 1990 to 1994. Outside of politics, Perskie worked as both a corporate and private practice attorney.
Early life
Perskie attended Atlantic City High SchoolAtlantic City High School
Atlantic City High School is a four-year public high school located in Atlantic City, in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Atlantic City School District. The current school building opened in 1994 and holds approximately 2,500 students...
. In 1966, he graduated from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and in 1969 earned a law degree at the University of Pennsylvania Law School
University of Pennsylvania Law School
The University of Pennsylvania Law School, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the law school of the University of Pennsylvania. A member of the Ivy League, it is among the oldest and most selective law schools in the nation. It is currently ranked 7th overall by U.S. News & World Report,...
. In 1970, he earned a masters in taxation from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
.
Career
Perskie was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1971 at age 26, and re-elected in 1973 and 1975. As an assemblyman, he was an advocate for the introduction of casino gaming in Atlantic City and was responsible for drafting what would become the New Jersey Casino Control Act.Party leadership at the Democratic convention in 1977 roundly supported Perskie over sitting Senator Joseph McGahn
Joseph McGahn
Dr. Joseph Leo McGahn was an American obstetrician and Democratic Party politician from New Jersey who served for six years in the New Jersey Senate from 1972 to 1978, where he was a key figure in bringing casino gambling to Atlantic City.-Education and medical career:McGahn was born in Atlantic...
by a margin of 266 to 77. McGahn ran in the general election as an independent, with Perskie beating both McGahn and Republican candidate Frederick Perone. Perskie and McGahn had won election to the Legislature together in 1971, despite the Republicans 4-1 edge in voter registration.
In 1981, Perskie was again challenged in the general election by McGahn, who ran as a Republican. Perskie won reelection with 29,151 votes, defeating McGahn, who received 28,149.
Perskie was appointed an Atlantic County Superior Court Judge in 1982. In 1989, he resigned from the bench to manage James Florio
James Florio
James Joseph "Jim" Florio is a Democratic politician who served as the 49th Governor of New Jersey from 1990 to 1994, the first Italian American to hold the position...
's successful gubernatorial campaign. He served as Florio's chief of staff from 1989 to 1990.
Perskie was appointed as chairman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission in 1990 and served in that capacity until 1994. On March 29, 1994, he announced his resignation from the Casino Control Commission to become vice president and general counsel of Players International
Players International
Players International was a United States company which built and operated riverboat casinos and a horse racing track.The company was founded by brothers David and Edward Fishman in 1984. The company was originally known for its "Player's Club," a service which offered discounts on rooms, shows and...
, an operator of riverboat casino
Riverboat casino
A riverboat casino is a type of casino found in several areas of the United States which use a riverboat as a casino. Several states authorized this type of casino to limit the areas where casinos could be constructed under a type of legal fiction.-History:...
s with no interests in New Jersey. In 1996, Perskie left Players and entered into private law practice. In 2001, Perskie was reappointed to the bench and was confirmed for permanent tenure in December 2008.
On February 1, 2010, Perskie retired from the bench and joined the law firm of Perskie, Mairone, Brog & Baylinson in Linwood, New Jersey
Linwood, New Jersey
Linwood is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 7,092.Linwood was originally incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 20, 1889, from portions of Egg Harbor Township, based on the...
.
Censure
In September 2009, the New Jersey Supreme CourtNew Jersey Supreme Court
The New Jersey Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It has existed in three different forms under the three different state constitutions since the independence of the state in 1776...
's Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct filed a three-count complaint alleging that Perskie lied to a State Senate panel regarding a potential conflict of interest. On August 1, 2011, the New Jersey Supreme Court censured Perskie for ethics violations but determined that he did not intentionally mislead the State Senate panel.